Meet the Experts

Self-referral Services

Direct help from our self-referral services

NHS Lanarkshire provides a range of health services that you can contact directly for help, without going through your GP.

Our self-referral services give patients a direct route to the health professional best placed to help them.

Eye conditions

Our orthoptists investigate, diagnose and treat people with long-term eye conditions such as misalignment of the eyes (squint), double vision and reduced vision. This service can be accessed through your local hospital.

Your local LENS optometrist, accessed via your community optician, is the best person to assess urgent eye problems, for example when your eyes suddenly become red or sore.

The Lanarkshire Eye-health Network Scheme (LENS)
Whatever your eye problem your first port of call should be an optometrist. An optometrist is the best person to assess urgent eye problems, check for eye disorders and treat eye conditions. They have the professional training and necessary equipment to assess most eye problems.

Many optometrists are part of the Lanarkshire Eye-health Network Scheme (LENS).

The optometrists who are part of the LENS can offer an appointment and assessment service for any concerns you may have with the health of your eyes or eye injuries including:

Red eye
Sore eye
Deterioration of eyesight
Other disturbance of eyesight

List of optometric practices participating in the LENS

You can also find out which optometrists are part of the LENS by calling the NHS Lanarkshire General Enquiry Line on 0300 3030 243.

Foot health

Our podiatry service treats patients with ongoing foot problems, as well as promoting self-care. Services are available both in the community and at our three hospital sites.

If you have ongoing foot problems you can access Podiatry advice and information to help you manage your symptoms on our Podiatry service web pages.

If the advice on our website doesn’t help or improve your foot issue, you can self-refer and book an appointment. Please complete our e-referral form and email this form to podiatry.hub@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk or contact our self-referral Podiatry Hub – call 01698 753753. The Hub is open from Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm.

You can also ask for a self-referral podiatry form at your health centre.

Hearing health

Our audiology team provides a range of services in relation to hearing health including assessment, diagnosis and hearing aid fittings. You can contact the audiology team on 01698 687 772.

Help with recuperation

Our occupational therapists work with adults and children with a wide range of conditions, including those who have difficulties due to a mental health illness, physical or learning disabilities to ensure they can carry out everyday tasks or occupations.

You can contact the service on 01698 855 515

Mobility help

Orthotics are more commonly known as splints or braces which are used to support the body. Our orthotics team work to support the rehabilitation of patients. This service can be accessed through your local hospital.

Physiotherapy

If you have a muscle or joint problem you can access Physiotherapy advice and information on our Musculoskeletal (MSK) Physiotherapy web pages.
You will find helpful exercises and videos to help you manage your symptoms. If your symptoms don’t resolve you can also use the online form on the website to self refer yourself to physiotherapy.

Speech and Language Therapy

Our speech and language therapists (SLTs) work with people who have communication and/or eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties linked to learning disabilities. Many of the people they work with have additional needs, including complex physical needs.

SLTs work in a range of settings across Lanarkshire. These include: health centres, community clinics, hospitals, nurseries, mainstream schools, special educational needs schools and units.